Concealed lubricant dispensing device



March 4, 1947. K s CLAPP 2,416,819

CONCEALED LUBRICANT DISPENSING DEV-ICE March 4, 1947." K, s, CLAPP l 2,416,819

GONGEALED LUBRICANT v DISPENS ING DEVICE :j 21;; ENToR. I BW@ @JHM/#guna March 4, 1947. K, CLAPP l 2,416,819

CONGEALED LUBRICANT DISPENsING-DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 4, 1947. K, s, CLAPP CONGEALED L UBRICNT DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Deo. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l i INVENTOR.

B Wr/@4% @MM/9 Patented Mar. 4, 1947 CUNCEALED 'LUBRICANT DISPENSING :DEVICE Kennems. Clapp, cincinnati, ohio Applcation'e'cember 22, 1943, Ser'ial No. v515,206

This invention relates to equipment for .lubri- `eating .automobiles and .comprlsesessentia'lly an adaptation of the apparatus disclosed and claimed inmy Patent No. Y2,225,622, issued December 4, 1940. The object 'ofthe present inven- 'tioniszto provide alconcealed .lubricant dispens- I cclaims. (c1. aziz-1609 .ing device" for use particularly in the` lubrication of automobiles.

Another object of'the present invention .isfto provide :a lubricating"systemiingwhieh the lubricating equipment is disposed entirely' below ground level or floor level, but 'with means 'for replacingr 'drums foflubricant at ground level or floor level "when 'the drums `become exhausted.

Two forms `of 'the device lare shown, one `adapted i.

for the lubrication .of .carsxin pits, the other for the lubrication .of cars disposed upon a lift. In each case, the drums containing the `lubricant are disposed on vthe platform of :an elevator `countersunk below ground level or .floor level. @n each drum is mounted a device for :removing lubricant therefrom, the device being detached from the drum to permit the drumsvto be interchanged. This device is usually and preferably Vair operated to minimize theflre hazard, though electrical means maybe employed if desired.

The lubricant removing devices are each con* .nected to a y'horizontally disposed conduit by means of afle'xible tube. The horizontal underground-conduits extend ltol the side walls lof the .pits and there vconnectfto iiexible conduits vadapted to convey the `grease, to the vpartofthe 'carto .be lubricated..

In'the second form shown .in the drawings, the

underground conduits extend to countersunk hose k;

reels which can .be used to lubricate a car elevated upon a lift.

Other objects and further advantages ofA the `present.'invent-ion will be readily .comprehended from -a further land detailed description of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 :is a diagrammatic cross sectional View of a grease ypit with an underground lubricant vdispensing v'device of the present invention dis poseert@ the side thereof.

Figure 2 is 'a diagrammatic top plan view of the `grease pit and .lubricant dispensing 7.device as disclosed Figure l.

:pensingdevice `as Vused vin `connection with `two grease pits.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional viewy of .the

lubricant Vdispensing device taken v:along the line ,l-l; Figure Figure 7 is af longitudinal sectional view of the lubricant dispensing "device similarfto Figure .-6

' but showing the elevator platform containing the Til) vg'neasendrums raised toriloor level. f

i .Figure 8 is a cross :sectional ,view`takenon1the .line -8,' Figure 6.

Y.la-ligure 9 .is a cross sectional view similar Vto Figure f8 :but showing the elevator 'platform raised to rioorievelas .in Figure 7.

:..As illustrated .inFi-guresil and 2 a lubricant dislicensing device, indicated generally at `f|.,is` disentirelybelow the ground l.or oorlevel 2 and in parallelism with .-a greaser pit 3. Underground conduits d extend frornthe lubricant -disy.pensirrga'device.to theside Wall .5 .of ythe"f.grease k'pit and :are there connected toffl'exible conduits E adapted to be used in greasing thepartsacfl the car to b e llubricated which isdisposednabovethe pitin the conventional manner.

The lubricant dispensing'device is shown closely adjacent' to and lparallel with Vthe -pitfasdescribed,V but 'iti-reed not be so pos-itionedgfor'in many V.cases Y the ractual positioning 'of the device :is -governedby fthevoor or ground space Vavailable, 'It.1nay,-therefore, be pla-ced in 'any conl- V'venient spot '.and fat any fangle whatsoever with .respect totherpit. f f

Inmany .instances :where service stations, .repairgarages or the likejare equipped with ,a series of A'pits dsposed'in aline parallelto'one another, I

one Flubricant dispensing unit may bedis-posed between each other --pair of pitsy ,and thereby Figure 3 is adiagrammatic sectional view of -a modied 'form ofthe invention. I Figure 4 is .a diagrammatictop .plan View of the modified .form `ofthe invention yas disclosed in Figure 3. 4

VFigure 5 .is a diagrammatic cross sectional view ysimilar to Figure ll'but showing the lubricant disservicetwo pits. `As illustrated in Figure .5, un-

derground conduits 4 extend Iromboth sri-des of a dispensing-.unit Ito vpits -fl xand 8. Flexible conduits or hoses 6 are connected'to .these conduits asin the case of ra s'inglf- .pit.f` l

-.A-fu1-.tl-1er modification is illustrated `in Figures 3 vand 4 wherein the undergroundiconduits 4 ex- .ten-d from the `l-u-bnicant Ldispensing device ylto 4`countersun'k hose-reelsi-S. These reels may be t `'.Ilie lubricant dispensing .device leomprlses' a Vcasing ls issunk to such a depth that the top edgesof the side'and end walls are at ground or oor level.

The elevator mechanism indicated generally at t5 comprises a platform 20 Vsujgpporting grease drums 2|V and upright supports 22 carrying a lid or cover plate 23 rigidly nxed to the upper ends thereof. The lid or cover plate 23 is of a size and configuration to overlie theturned-over edges 24 ofthe side and end walls of Athe casingelement 4 top edge thereof. This prevents any possibility of the two elevator pistons cocking or in any way becoming disaligned with respect to the casing I4 while in operation.

An elongated roller 43 xed to the platform V2|) by means of brackets ll- 41 is provided adjacent each grease or oil drum to aid in removing empty drums and particularly in placing full grease orY position on the platform.

In operation the elevator is raised so that its oil drums which are of a considerable weight in 'I platform is at iioor level. The drums of lubricant I4 and thus completely encloses the unit when at their lower ends to a longitudinal channel iron 25 which, 'in turn, is rigidly flxedto the bottom of the casing element I4 by means of the hori-k zontal angle irons 21,-21 and the longitudinal angle irons v28-28 which serve to join the side `wall and bottom'w'all of the casing I4.' When-air are'then placed upon it and the pumps or means for withdrawing thelubricant from the containers areput into position above the containers. The elevator is then lowered so thatV itscover plateis substantiallyush with the floor. When a car is to be lubricated it is driven into one of the pits or into the proximity of the hose reel and lubricated according to conventional technique. Instead of the hose reel any other desired4 type of device for applying the grease to the car may be employed. In fact, the lateral or horizontal, rigid conduit may be run to any desired location, the primary concept of this invention being the use of the elevator for the handling of the grease vto bey used, the exible conduits between the is introduced Yunder pressure through'the longiby the bolts 3 I vwill raise the elevator mechanism l5 carrying the grease drums until the bottoms of the drums reach ground or floor level, yEmpty lgrease drums may then be removed fromrthe `platform Z and replaced byrfull drums. The air in cylinders 25-25 Vmay then be released to re'- turn theelevator to its position below 'the ground or floor level.

f An external air conduit 32 extending from the air compressor' (not shown) projects through a side wall of the casing I 4 and is connected to a Alongitudinally disposed air conduit 33 by means 'of a iiexible hoseor tube 34.. Conduit 33 is fixed to the top plate or lid 23 bymeans of brackets "35 and conveys compressed air to the grease or oil pumps 36lby means of flexible tubes or hosesV 31.

Oil'or grease pumps 36are fixed to the tops lof the drums 2l in the conventional manner. An external airrconduit-extendsrfrom the conduit 32 to the longitudinal .ain conduit 29 to convey vair to the elevator air cylinders 25-25. VValves 39 and 4D inconduits 32 and 38 control the flow of compressed air to the grease or oil pumps and air cylindersrespectively,` and may be located bellow ground level immediately adjacent a side of the casing I4. A hinged coverl or lid 4I is pro- Means yfor removing Vgrease from the containers,

`--such as grease pumps 36, are connected to the horizontally disposed conduits 4 by means of flex- Figures 6 and8, the tubes ifall in long, easy loops -whenl the elevator is inv down" position and, as

shown in Figures '7 Iand9, are of a sufficient length A vstabilizerjis provided which consists of arms 43A and 44 pi'votally connected between the ends drums mounted on the elevator, the rigid, horizontal'oonduit, and the iiexible conduit at the other end of the rigid conduit for `applying the lubricantimmediately to the car.

'Having described my invention, I claim:v

l. A concealed lubricant dispensing device comprising an elevator'having a platform on which Adrums of lubricant are adapted to be disposed,

said elevator disposed in a recess, said recess countersunk below floor level, a cover plate for the elevator adapted to occupy a position substantially flush with the iioor when the elevator is in down position, means for operating the elevator to dispose the platform with the drums :of lubricant at floor level when in elevated positionA and the cover plate at floor level when in 4down position, means for removing lubricant from reach of saiddrums, said means attachable to and detachable from the. drums to permit theV changing of drums, horizontal conduits below iioor level extendingto the wall of the recess in which the elevator is disposed, flexible connections between said latter means for removing the lubricant from the drums and adjacent ends of -said horizontal conduits, and flexible means secured to the other ends of the horizontal conduitsv for conveying the lubricantto a point of use. Y 1- f 2. 'A concealed lubrlcantdispensing d evice com..

' is in down position, means for operating the Vto enable theelevator to be raised to ground level.

of the elevator platform 20 and a longitudinalV- -fshaft'li'fii'xed to one ofthe side walls 'I6 near the elevator to dispose Vthe platform with the drums -to and detachable from the drums to permit the changing of drums, horizontal conduits below floor level mounted in the recess in which the 4elevator is disposed, flexible connections between said latter means forremoving the lubricant from the drums andsaid'horizontal conduits, a pit for lubricating a car from'below, said horizontal conduits extending to the side walls of said pit, and flexible means secured 'to the ends of the horizontal conduits for conveying the lubricant to the part of the car to be lubricated.

3. 'A'concealed lubricant dispensing device comprising an elevator having a platform on which drums of lubricant are adapted to be disposed.,

said elevator disposed in a recess, said recess countersunk below iloor level, a cover plate for the elevator adapted Ato occupy a position substantially flush with the oor when the elevator is in down position, means for operating the elevator to dispose the platform with the drums of lubricant at floor level when in elevated position and the cover plate at iloor level when in down position, Ameans for removing lubricant from each of said drums, said means attachable to and detachable from the drums to permit the changing of drums, a horizontal conduit below floor level extended to the wall of the recess in which the elevator is disposed, flexible connections between said latter means for removing the lubricant from the drumsand said horizontalA conduit, and a hose reel countersunk below iloo-r level, said hose reel connected with said horizontal conduit.

4. A concealed lubricant dispensing device comprising two pits for lubricating cars from below, an elevator mechanism countersunk in a recess below oor level in-between said pits, horizontal conduits disposed below iloor level, said horizontal conduits extending from the side Walls of the recess in which 'the elevator is mounted to the side walls of the pits, ilexible connections for disposing grease in the cars to be lubricated, said flexible connections connected to the horizontal conduits extending from the side walls of the pits, a cover plate mounted on top of said elevator mechanism, said cover platefadapted to be substantially ush with the iioor when the elevator is in down position, an elevator platform on which drums oi lubricant may be mounted, said platform adapted to be substantially flush with the floor when the elevator is in .up position to permit interchange of drums atv floor level, means for removing lubricant from each drum, `and flexible connections between said means and the horizontal conduits extending to the pits.

5. A concealed lubricant dispensing device comprising an elevator having a platform on which drums of lubricant are adapted to be disposed, said elevator countersunk in a recess below floor level, a cover plate for the elevator adapted to occupy a position substantially ilush with the' iloor when the elevator is in down" position, means for operating the elevator to dispose the platform with the drums 'of lubricant at floor level Whenrin elevatedposition .and the coverVV plate at floor level when in down position, i

means for removing lubricant from each of said drums, said means attachable to and detachable from the drums to permit the changing of drums, horizontal conduits below floor level extending to the wall of the recess in which the elevator is disposed, and exible connections between said latter means for removing the lubricant from the drums and said horizontal conduits.

6. A concealed lubricant dispensing device comprising an elevator having a platform on Which drums `oi? lubricant are adapted to be disposed, said elevator disposed in a recess, said recess countersunk below iloor level, a cover plate `for the elevator adapted to occupy a position substantially ilush with the floor when the elevator is in down position, means for operating thev elevator to dispose the platform with the drums oflubricant at iloor level when in elevated posi- .j

tion and the cover plate at floor level when in down position, means for removing lubricant REFERENCES CITED The following references `are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITEDV STATES PATENTS ,y

Date

Lucas Feb. 19, 1929 

